Last week, a colossal scandal involving ostentatious cheating, bribes and dishonesty made international news when a 204 page indictment came down.

No, this time it wasn’t the White House or any part of that particularly perplexing and egregious ilk. This time, it was about an elaborate college admissions swindle in which over 50 people (including high profile names in athletics, actors and fashion designers) allegedly persuaded people with large suitcases full of cash to ensure places for their offspring in an Ivy League college or other elite university.

According to New York Times reporter Rebecca Halleck, the so –called ground-zero of these devious plots appear to come from one entity known as “Edge College & Career Network” and its masterminded by Mr. Rick Singer.

“At the center of the scandal are the Edge College & Career Network, also known as the Key, and a nonprofit organization, the Key Worldwide Foundation, that prosecutors say effectively were a single enterprise. They are accused of helping students cheat on standardized tests, and paying bribes to athletic coaches who could get the students into college using fake athletic credentials,” Halleck wrote.

On March 12, Singer, 58, pleaded guilty to money laundering, racketeering, obstruction of justice and tax evasion for his role in the scheme, which allegedly involved bribing coaches and paying off SAT exam proctors to get wealthy teenagers seats at high priced, prestigious universities.

Using such highly sophisticated investigative tools as Google, this reporter has discovered that money, in fact, does seem to be at the root of all evil.

Wealthy, high profile people can buy their kids out of a jam and apparently into a college of their choice. That is, until the desperate deeds are discovered as in the case of actors Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin who allegedly paid many greenbacks to get the green light from colleges.

Money seems to make the world go round and line the ever-swelling thief’s wallet and then ultimately the lawyers’ coffers. Privilege, power and prosperity can’t buy love anymore because they all get caught, eventually. But, hey, as our Copy Editor Fabiola Diaz pointed out, “to add insult to injury, these people got a tax break on their bribes.”

The sad reality here is that for most of us, we struggle to make ends meet, pay off college and mortgage loans over decades, and use credit cards far too much to pay for the necessities of life, including health care premiums.

To some of the rich and infamous, things like honesty, values and hard work appear to be “so yesterday.” As long as you have cash, you have clout. Talk about double standards.

According to the dictionary double standard isn’t a legal term per se, but became increasingly associated with arguing for equal treatment before the court. With the rise of the Civil Rights movement starting in the 1940s, activists frequently complained about the double standards for whites and blacks as well as other oppressed minority groups.

Take a serious look at incarceration times for African-American’s and Latinos for relatively minor crimes and misdemeanors only to see enormous disparity compared to Anglos.

According to the NAACP, in 2014 African-Americans constituted 2.3 million, or 34 percent, of the total 6.8 million correctional population. African-Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites. The imprisonment rate for African-American women is twice that of white women. Nationwide, African-American children represent 32 percent of children who are arrested, 42 percent of children who are detained, and 52 percent of children whose cases are judicially waived to criminal court.

Though African-Americans and Hispanics make up approximately 32 percent of the U.S.population, they comprised 56 percent of all incarcerated people in 2015. If African-Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40 percent.

Another staggering stat is that in 2012 alone, the United States spent nearly $81 billion on corrections. Spending on prisons and jails has increased at triple the rate of spending on Pre‐K‐12 public education in the last thirty years, according to the NAACP.

The FBI in Boston tweeted, March 12, that 33 parents have been charged, nationwide, in connection with this elaborate cheating and athletic recruitment scheme. Some spent anywhere from $200,000 to $6.5 million to guarantee their children admission to elite universities. Fake athletic profiles were also submitted for some students.

Take a look at pro sports in general; indeed a double standard exists here too. Again, without much cash, you’ll probably be left out of the “justice system” and be guilty until proven innocent, unless, of course, you’re desperately stealing (i.e. cheating) to get Susie’s SAT score higher than would be possible without a payoff.

Abigail Van Buren’s of ‘Dear Abby’ quote seems rather applicable now. “If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money.”

]]>Financial Literacy gets in the way of many individuals trying to buy a home. – Courtesy photo / Guy Kilroy (CC BY-SA 2.0)

While low affordability is the biggest obstacle most renters face in becoming homeowners, 14 percent of California renters can afford to purchase a home but are foregoing homeownership partly because they don’t have the financial knowledge to do so, according to research findings by the California Association of Realtors.

Of the nearly 6 million California renters statewide, 826,000 could qualify to purchase a median-priced home in the county in which they reside. Five in 10 who qualify to purchase a home are white (51.4 percent), 12 percent are Asian, more than one in four is Hispanic (26.9 percent), and 6 percent are Black.

A lack of financial literacy is one of the biggest barriers preventing renters from becoming homeowners. Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) believe a down payment of at least 20 percent is required to purchase a home, and 72 percent are unaware of loan programs that require less than 20 percent down payment. Additionally, nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) would purchase a home if they could put down a lower down payment.

“While many renters earn the income and have the credit required to buy a home, they have misconceptions about what it takes to become a homeowner, which is holding them back from buying a home or causing them to give up on their American dream,” said Arcadia Association of Realtors president, Kelvin Chang. “Prospective first-time buyers should be aware that there are many down payment assistance programs offered by local housing agencies and low down payment programs from the Federal Housing Administration, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Veterans Administration.”

Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Sacramento counties boast the largest number of qualified renters.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/news/california-renters-qualify-for-homeownership-but-lack-financial-knowledge-to-purchase/feed/0Santa Anita Horse Deaths Initiate Congressional, District Attorney Investigationshttp://www.bppress.com/news/santa-anita-horse-deaths-initiate-congressional-district-attorney-investigations/
http://www.bppress.com/news/santa-anita-horse-deaths-initiate-congressional-district-attorney-investigations/#respondThu, 21 Mar 2019 09:52:59 +0000http://www.bppress.com/featured/santa-anita-horse-deaths-initiate-congressional-district-attorney-investigations/The Los Angeles County District Attorney confirmed on March 15 that it has assigned investigators to work with the California Horse Racing Board...

The Los Angeles County District Attorney confirmed on March 15 that it has assigned investigators to work with the California Horse Racing Board with an eye on investigating the unusually high number of equine deaths at the race track in the past couple of months.

In a concise email statement Monday morning, public information officer for the district attorney, Venusse D. Navid wrote: “At this time, the District Attorney’s office has assigned investigators to work with the California Horse Racing Board.” No other details were provided to this newspaper.

This investigation follows a call for a congressional committee to investigate treatment of racehorses at Santa Anita Park following the deaths. Congresswoman Judy Chu wants the House Energy and Commerce Committee to investigate the treatment of horses, not only at Santa Anita but at racetracks across the country. Last Friday morning, Chu expressed her shock at the 22 deaths at Santa Anita recently:

“I am outraged by the deaths at Santa Anita racetrack. Animals deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, and the use of race-day medication like Lasix must stop. The U.S. is an outlier when it comes to the practice of injecting horses with this drug on race-day and we need answers on the impact of this practice at Santa Anita and throughout the country. I am calling on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to investigate and hold a hearing on the treatment of horses at Santa Anita and throughout our country, and to examine legislation like the Horseracing Integrity Act that would improve safety for racehorses. I will work with my colleagues to ensure that all animals are treated humanely and to get to the bottom of this crisis. Until we know the horses are safe, the Santa Anita Racetrack should be closed.”

In addition to the City of Arcadia losing money while the track is closed, the other victims, aside from the horses, are those who work directly with the thoroughbreds such as jockeys and almost everyone working directly or indirectly with the equines.

Since early March many have simply not received paychecks and the end result is that some jockeys have moved to different tracks just to make ends meet. Thus far, there has been little comment from the track regarding the employees at Santa Anita.

For additional economic impacts we turned to Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto for his perspective. In a written statement via email Wednesday afternoon, Lazzaretto said:

“Unfortunately, I can’t give you an overall picture of the economic impact (restaurants, hotels, etc.) because we just have never done that kind of an overall analysis.

“What I can say is that the city loses an average of about $5,000 per lost racing date. Losing the ‘Big Cap’ a few weeks ago was a much larger impact because that is one of their biggest racing days of the year.

“Santa Anita has been a very good partner to the city over the years. We applaud their bold decision to update their practices to better protect the health of their athletes and we look forward to everyone enjoying this sport for generations to come.”

On March 16 Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) apparently reached an agreement to “protect the safety and welfare of horses and riders in the state. This collective mandate enacts the most stringent medication policy in North America.” Belinda Stronach, president and chairman of The Stronach Group (TSG), which owns both Santa Anita and Golden Gate, outlined these new regulations earlier this week in an open letter.

“This is a complete revision of the current medication policy for thoroughbred racing. We have worked through the implementation of this groundbreaking model with our stakeholders and the California Horse Racing Board,” said Belinda Stronach. “TSG is committed to the principles of safe horse racing for both equine and human athletes and to making California racing the best in the world. It is my hope the other tracks in California will follow suit. TSG will begin consultation with our stakeholders in other states to put these standards into effect in those jurisdictions, in the best interest of horse racing.”

“I very much appreciate the efforts made by The Stronach Group, the TOC, and the CTT in coming to this agreement, to improve and enhance horse and rider safety,” said Chuck Winner, California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) chairman. “The CHRB will continue to work with the stakeholders as they move forward. I plan to move the previously scheduled March 21st board meeting to March 28th in order for the full board to consider and take action on those items on which CHRB approval is required. March 28th allows for the legally required 10-day public notice.” Santa Anita, Golden Gate and the TOC have agreed to the following initiatives for racing and training:

Complete transparency of all veterinary records.

Strict limitations on the use of any pain or anti-inflammatory medication and treatment, including legal therapeutic NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), joint injections, shockwave therapy, and anabolic steroids.

Trainers must apply for permission to work a horse (a timed, high-speed training exercise) at least 48 hours in advance.

No therapeutic medications of treatments will be allowed without a qualified veterinary diagnosis from a state licensed veterinarian.

Significant and strict Out-of-Competition Testing (OCT).

Increasing the time required for horses to be on-site prior to a race.

A substantial investment by The Stronach Group in diagnostic equipment to aid in the early detection of pre-existing conditions.

Santa Anita, Golden Gate and the TOC are also in alliance to change the use of the cushion crop. This evolution of a centuries-old practice will only allow the use of the crop as a corrective safety measure. This new directive has already gone into effect during training hours.

Regarding the growing concern about use of the riding crop, which is more commonly called a whip, jockeys use to try and make their hose run faster, the open letter stated: “Experts who have studied this controversial issue point out that Victor Espinoza’s ride on American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby, used his whip 32 times.”

Tim Ritvo, COO, said, “The time has come for this industry to evolve. It must do so for the sake of the horses and the people who depend on this sport for their livelihoods. Moving to international standards will help to set the right foundation for racing and fairness. We love the sport of horse racing and want it to succeed today, tomorrow and long into the future.”

CHRB will address all these changes March 28. This agreement will effectively phase out all race-day medication at Santa Anita and Golden Gate under rules consistent with, or more restrictive than, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) standards. The IFHA regulations are in effect at premiere racetracks throughout the world and are the benchmark for equine safety and welfare.

All horses born in or after 2018 will race at Santa Anita and Golden Gate with no race- day medication, including the diuretic furosemide, commonly known as Lasix. This means all 2-year-old horses starting in 2020 and after will be racing medication free. All horses born prior to 2018 will race at Santa Anita and Golden Gate with the same guidelines, however, following the recommendation of veterinary experts for the best interest of the health of the current horse population, Lasix will still be permitted but at a maximum of 50 percent of the current levels.

“Lasix is an efficacious medication for the treatment of exercised-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and has been legal in California for almost a generation of trainers,” said Dionne Benson, DVM, executive director and COO of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC). “This change will require many trainers to manage their horses without the aid of this medication in racing for the first time ever. In order to ensure this is done properly and thoughtfully, we need to allow time for this adjustment.”

These modernizations are in addition to the previously announced commitment to the continued engagement of outside experts to regularly review Santa Anita’s dirt, turf and synthetic courses to ensure the safest racing surfaces in the world.

Meanwhile, some in the industry worry about the long term future of horse racing in general and, with the Breeders’ Cup slated for Santa Anita just seven months away, people are pondering if this may be cancelled altogether.

Jim Gluckson, Breeders’ Cup Ltd., sent a statement out Thursday but made no immediate comment with regard to the prestigious 2-day event slated for Santa Anita in November:

“Like all of racing we are profoundly saddened by the loss of a life at any racetrack and we are heartbroken for those whose livelihoods are dedicated to the care of our horses. As an organization, the Breeders’ Cup stands for the highest levels of safety and integrity. We support the effort by The Stronach Group to propose important changes and we commit to working with the racing industry in California and elsewhere to achieve meaningful reform on a national basis.

“We recognize that for real change to result from this difficult situation we must engage those stakeholders quickly and dedicate time and other resources. We must, as an industry, press forward on implementing existing best practices and rapidly proceed with the consideration of further reforms such as those proposed by The Stronach Group in California. It is vital that we all do so.”

Once this agreement is approved by the CHRB, Santa Anita and Golden Gate will race with these enhanced new safety and welfare protocols in place. Because state regulations require a 10-day approval process, Santa Anita is planning to return to racing on March 29.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/news/santa-anita-horse-deaths-initiate-congressional-district-attorney-investigations/feed/0San Gabriel Valley Kids Invited to Explore Their Artistic Talents at ‘CSArts Academy’http://www.bppress.com/education/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy-2/
http://www.bppress.com/education/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy-2/#respondTue, 19 Mar 2019 10:54:58 +0000http://www.bppress.com/featured/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy-2/California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) opens its campus to students ages 8-16 from throughout the community to explore their interest in the arts this summe...

California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) opens its campus to students ages 8-16 from throughout the community to explore their interest in the arts this summer during CSArts Academy. A fun, creative and nurturing environment sets the stage for students to engage in a variety of arts classes taught by CSArts-SGV’s renowned and enthusiastic educators. With opportunities for full-day and half-day (morning and afternoon) sessions, students can fill their days learning acting, animation, dance, guitar, musical theater, photography, visual arts, vocal arts and more! CSArts Academy is an ideal way to experience the quality arts instruction and unique school culture offered at CSArts-SGV, a public arts charter school providing quality arts and academic education to students in grades 7-12.

Registration is currently open for the week-long CSArts Academy program taking place June 17-21, at the CSArts-SGV campus (1401 Highland Ave., Duarte, CA). To register and view a digital brochure, visit www.sgv.csarts.net/academy. Class summaries and options can be seen below.

Acting (Ages 11-15)

Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Cost: $225

This week-long class, appropriate for all experience levels, will show students how to use their bodies, breath and voice to better perform on stage or speak in front of a group. Students will discover how they have developed “social armor,” or ways to hide themselves, and – using acting techniques – they will strip off the tensions they hold in their bodies and allow themselves to be seen. Using stories from their own lives, the week will culminate in a performance where students will show and relive a moment of their lives that brought them fear, joy and love.

Animation (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Lunch break included from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

Cost: $425

Students will learn to animate digitally while engaging in the concepts and principles of animation. Emphasis will be placed on squash-and-stretch, anticipation, exaggeration and timing. Technical focus will include pose-to-pose, keyframing, tweening and animation cycles, as well as expression of emotion and gesture through movement with a variety of techniques and approaches. Students will create several short animated films.

This fun and engaging class will challenge students to discover and develop their own creative process through the art of ceramics. Students will be introduced to ceramic studio terminology and explore the geological origins of clay and glazes. Students will also be introduced to basic hand-building techniques, through which they will learn to create functional ware and decorative pieces.

This week-long intensive class will help students bring their imagination to life. Students will create artworks based on real-life observation and imaginative design. Using step-by-step methods and creative problem solving, students will explore different mediums and techniques for the purpose of building both their skill level and portfolio.

Students will learn to play several styles of guitar, including classical, jazz and flamenco, in this one-week workshop. Students will be taught musical literacy and solid guitar technique through fun, interactive activities and lessons in a supportive, educational group setting. Students must provide their own guitar.

The Best Instrument – The Body! (Ages 11-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

The body is the original (and best) instrument! In this class, students will practice body percussion (think Stomp!), yoga, meditation and singing songs using the body to create rhythmic accompaniment. This is a class for energetic kids who like to move and use their singing voices. No prior singing or dancing experience is necessary.

In this dynamic class, students will be exposed to a wide variety of dance styles, including but not limited to jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary and tap. Throughout the week, students will work on technique and choreography, and the intensive will culminate with a performance for friends and family to enjoy.

Digital Photography (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Lunch Break included from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

Cost: $425

This fundamentals of photography class will introduce students to the workings of a DSLR camera and give them a handle on camera operations, lenses, digital workflow and more. By the end of the class, students will have an understanding of the basic elements of art and the ability to apply it to their own photography. Students will also learn various techniques of photography and how to do basic edits to their photographs using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

Let’s Make a Musical! (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $250

Let’s make a musical in five days! As a group, students will write a musical and present a reading of that musical on the final day of class. Students will study the basics of story structure, songwriting, collaboration and performing. Writers, musicians and performers are all welcome, as students will be embracing the collaborative process together.

This fun-filled, introductory musical theatre class will engage students in the creative process, while giving them foundational skills in singing, acting and dancing. Students will learn to find their voice and hone their skills in character development, storytelling, ensemble building and creative expression. At the end of the week, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their hard work in a fun, musical revue performance for friends and family to enjoy.

Printmaking (Ages 11-15)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

This one-week class will introduce students to printmaking. The course will cover a variety of printmaking techniques, including monoprinting, relief, intaglio and screenprinting. Students will have the opportunity to create editions of prints and explore their ideas.

Students painting. – Courtesy photo / CSArts-SGV

Voice Artist (Ages 12-16)

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $250

This class will provide an exciting way for young singers to explore their own voices and experience singing a variety of vocal styles, including musical theater, pop, classical and even jazz. Through solo master classes, ensemble rehearsals and fun listening activities, students will learn how to powerfully communicate as vocal artists across multiple genres. An accompanist will be present for a portion of the class each day. This experience will culminate in a solo and ensemble performance where each student will get the opportunity to showcase their new skills as a flexible vocal artist.

The Writer’s Support Group (Ages 11-16)

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

This is a class about making stuff up! Every day, writers face a horrible monster known as “writer’s block.” In this class, creative writers will experiment with different creative ideas and figure out how to get those ideas out and onto the page. This class is designed to give students the tools and confidence they need to pursue a career in writing.

CSArts-SGV is located at 1401 Highland Avenue in Duarte. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.net.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/education/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy-2/feed/0San Gabriel Valley Kids Invited to Explore Their Artistic Talents at ‘CSArts Academy’http://www.bppress.com/education/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy/
http://www.bppress.com/education/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy/#respondTue, 19 Mar 2019 10:54:58 +0000http://www.bppress.com/featured/san-gabriel-valley-kids-invited-to-explore-their-artistic-talents-at-csarts-academy/California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) opens its campus to students ages 8-16 from throughout the community to explore their interest in the arts this summe...

California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) opens its campus to students ages 8-16 from throughout the community to explore their interest in the arts this summer during CSArts Academy. A fun, creative and nurturing environment sets the stage for students to engage in a variety of arts classes taught by CSArts-SGV’s renowned and enthusiastic educators. With opportunities for full-day and half-day (morning and afternoon) sessions, students can fill their days learning acting, animation, dance, guitar, musical theater, photography, visual arts, vocal arts and more! CSArts Academy is an ideal way to experience the quality arts instruction and unique school culture offered at CSArts-SGV, a public arts charter school providing quality arts and academic education to students in grades 7-12.

Registration is currently open for the week-long CSArts Academy program taking place June 17-21, at the CSArts-SGV campus (1401 Highland Ave., Duarte, CA). To register and view a digital brochure, visit www.sgv.csarts.net/academy. Class summaries and options can be seen below.

Acting (Ages 11-15)

Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Cost: $225

This week-long class, appropriate for all experience levels, will show students how to use their bodies, breath and voice to better perform on stage or speak in front of a group. Students will discover how they have developed “social armor,” or ways to hide themselves, and – using acting techniques – they will strip off the tensions they hold in their bodies and allow themselves to be seen. Using stories from their own lives, the week will culminate in a performance where students will show and relive a moment of their lives that brought them fear, joy and love.

Animation (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Lunch break included from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

Cost: $425

Students will learn to animate digitally while engaging in the concepts and principles of animation. Emphasis will be placed on squash-and-stretch, anticipation, exaggeration and timing. Technical focus will include pose-to-pose, keyframing, tweening and animation cycles, as well as expression of emotion and gesture through movement with a variety of techniques and approaches. Students will create several short animated films.

This fun and engaging class will challenge students to discover and develop their own creative process through the art of ceramics. Students will be introduced to ceramic studio terminology and explore the geological origins of clay and glazes. Students will also be introduced to basic hand-building techniques, through which they will learn to create functional ware and decorative pieces.

This week-long intensive class will help students bring their imagination to life. Students will create artworks based on real-life observation and imaginative design. Using step-by-step methods and creative problem solving, students will explore different mediums and techniques for the purpose of building both their skill level and portfolio.

Students will learn to play several styles of guitar, including classical, jazz and flamenco, in this one-week workshop. Students will be taught musical literacy and solid guitar technique through fun, interactive activities and lessons in a supportive, educational group setting. Students must provide their own guitar.

The Best Instrument – The Body! (Ages 11-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

The body is the original (and best) instrument! In this class, students will practice body percussion (think Stomp!), yoga, meditation and singing songs using the body to create rhythmic accompaniment. This is a class for energetic kids who like to move and use their singing voices. No prior singing or dancing experience is necessary.

In this dynamic class, students will be exposed to a wide variety of dance styles, including but not limited to jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary and tap. Throughout the week, students will work on technique and choreography, and the intensive will culminate with a performance for friends and family to enjoy.

Digital Photography (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Lunch Break included from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

Cost: $425

This fundamentals of photography class will introduce students to the workings of a DSLR camera and give them a handle on camera operations, lenses, digital workflow and more. By the end of the class, students will have an understanding of the basic elements of art and the ability to apply it to their own photography. Students will also learn various techniques of photography and how to do basic edits to their photographs using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

Let’s Make a Musical! (Ages 12-16)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $250

Let’s make a musical in five days! As a group, students will write a musical and present a reading of that musical on the final day of class. Students will study the basics of story structure, songwriting, collaboration and performing. Writers, musicians and performers are all welcome, as students will be embracing the collaborative process together.

This fun-filled, introductory musical theatre class will engage students in the creative process, while giving them foundational skills in singing, acting and dancing. Students will learn to find their voice and hone their skills in character development, storytelling, ensemble building and creative expression. At the end of the week, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their hard work in a fun, musical revue performance for friends and family to enjoy.

Printmaking (Ages 11-15)

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

This one-week class will introduce students to printmaking. The course will cover a variety of printmaking techniques, including monoprinting, relief, intaglio and screenprinting. Students will have the opportunity to create editions of prints and explore their ideas.

Students painting. – Courtesy photo / CSArts-SGV

Voice Artist (Ages 12-16)

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $250

This class will provide an exciting way for young singers to explore their own voices and experience singing a variety of vocal styles, including musical theater, pop, classical and even jazz. Through solo master classes, ensemble rehearsals and fun listening activities, students will learn how to powerfully communicate as vocal artists across multiple genres. An accompanist will be present for a portion of the class each day. This experience will culminate in a solo and ensemble performance where each student will get the opportunity to showcase their new skills as a flexible vocal artist.

The Writer’s Support Group (Ages 11-16)

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $225

This is a class about making stuff up! Every day, writers face a horrible monster known as “writer’s block.” In this class, creative writers will experiment with different creative ideas and figure out how to get those ideas out and onto the page. This class is designed to give students the tools and confidence they need to pursue a career in writing.

CSArts-SGV is located at 1401 Highland Avenue in Duarte. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.net.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/e-edition/baldwin-park-press-03-18-2019/feed/0Long Beach Public Library Holds Dictionary Day Events to Encourage Vocabulary Growth and Reading Comprehension for Childrenhttp://www.bppress.com/community/long-beach-public-library-holds-dictionary-day-events-to-encourage-vocabulary-growth-and-reading-comprehension-for-children/
http://www.bppress.com/community/long-beach-public-library-holds-dictionary-day-events-to-encourage-vocabulary-growth-and-reading-comprehension-for-children/#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 14:43:34 +0000http://www.bppress.com/featured/long-beach-public-library-holds-dictionary-day-events-to-encourage-vocabulary-growth-and-reading-comprehension-for-children/According to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, when children enter the fourth grade their lessons shift. Instead of learning to read, they read to learn. LBPL Dictionary...

]]>Long Beach Dictionary Days returned to the public library on March 12. –Courtesy photo /LBPL

According to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, when children enter the fourth grade their lessons shift. Instead of learning to read, they read to learn. LBPL Dictionary Day events help students navigate this crucial time by teaching dictionary use through fun and creative activities designed to help improve reading comprehension.

This year’s annual Dictionary Day Program events will commence on March 12 and include four community celebrations of words and reading at Long Beach Public Library branches throughout the city. The events follow the gift of a dictionary/thesaurus to every Long Beach Unified School District third grade student at the start of the school year.

Dictionary Day events are free and open to all elementary school students and their families. The Dr. Seuss’s Wacky World of Words will be held at Burnett Neighborhood Library 560 E. Hill St. on Thursday, March 21 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Call (562) 570-1041 for more information

Join Long Beach Public Library on a word journey to Polynesia where we’ll play games, make buttons, and enjoy a Polynesian cultural dance performance. We will have wacky word games, Seuss-tacular storytelling by Buster Balloon, groovy games and more at the Polynesian Travel with Words event. It will be held at the Bach Neighborhood Library 4055 Bellflower Blvd. on Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Call (562) 570-1038 for more information.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/community/long-beach-public-library-holds-dictionary-day-events-to-encourage-vocabulary-growth-and-reading-comprehension-for-children/feed/0Baldwin Park High School Wins National Champions of Breakfast Awardhttp://www.bppress.com/education/baldwin-park-high-school-wins-national-champions-of-breakfast-award-2/
http://www.bppress.com/education/baldwin-park-high-school-wins-national-champions-of-breakfast-award-2/#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 14:27:17 +0000http://www.bppress.com/featured/baldwin-park-high-school-wins-national-champions-of-breakfast-award-2/Baldwin Park High School earned the award for implementing its innovative breakfast carts that provide students a range of free and healthy options. Baldwin Park High Sc...

]]>Baldwin Park High School’s food and nutrition services earned the 2019 Champions of Breakfast Award for increasing the number of students who eat breakfast on a daily basis by 25 percent. Through Baldwin Park High School’s breakfast cart, students can choose free and healthy options, including whole-grain pastries, fruit smoothies and granola bars.- Courtesy photo / BPUSD

Baldwin Park High School earned the award for implementing its innovative breakfast carts that provide students a range of free and healthy options.

Baldwin Park High School’s food and nutrition services recently earned the 2019 Champions of Breakfast Award for implementing innovative serving models and increasing the number of students who eat breakfast on a daily basis by 25 percent.

The Champions of Breakfast Awards recognize schools and districts across the country that operate exemplary School Breakfast Programs (SBP).

“We are super excited to win this national award,” said BPUSD Director of Nutrition Services Rosa Estrella. “Students do better in school if they have a healthy meal in the morning, and as Director, it is my responsibility to make sure students receive a nutritionally balanced meal.”

Estrella nominated Baldwin Park High School for the Champions of Breakfast Award because of the dedicated staff, who embraced the breakfast carts and helped increase meal participation. Their hard work has ensured that more than 72 percent of the student population, or about 1,300 out of 1,800 students, receive breakfast.

Baldwin Park High School’s food and nutrition services earned the 2019 Champions of Breakfast Award for increasing the number of students who eat breakfast on a daily basis by 25 percent. Through Baldwin Park High School’s breakfast cart, students can choose free and healthy options, including whole-grain pastries, fruit smoothies and granola bars.- Courtesy photo / BPUSD

Through Baldwin Park High School’s breakfast cart, students can choose free and healthy options, including whole-grain pastries, fruit smoothies and granola bars. Students also can create their own oatmeal and yogurt bowls, complete with cinnamon, granola, strawberries, bananas and blueberries.

Across the District, more than 25,000 breakfasts are served to students on a weekly basis, with options that include cafeteria meals, grab-n-go carts, breakfast in the classroom and second chance breakfast.

To promote healthy eating habits and celebrate National School Breakfast Week, taking place March 4-8, Nutrition Services is offering new breakfast items that include cheese omelets with whole-grain croissants, waffles with fresh strawberries and bananas, and whole-grain cinnamon rolls.

With the “Start Your Engines” campaign, families and students are encouraged to eat breakfast and learn about the importance of a balanced diet.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s SBP provides nutritionally balanced, low- or no-cost breakfasts to students each school day.

]]>http://www.bppress.com/education/baldwin-park-high-school-wins-national-champions-of-breakfast-award-2/feed/0Reader Remarks on Monarch Butterflieshttp://www.bppress.com/opinion/columns/reader-remarks-on-monarch-butterflies/
http://www.bppress.com/opinion/columns/reader-remarks-on-monarch-butterflies/#respondSun, 17 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +0000http://www.bppress.com/?p=6646Monarch butterflies by the thousand. Yes! I said thousand.A cloud sent shade over my property this morning. I looked up for a cloud but saw hundreds upo..

A cloud sent shade over my property this morning. I looked up for a cloud but saw hundreds upon hundreds of baby monarchs flying in a group overhead.

I rushed to grab my camera and ran outside to look for the source. Across the street at Longden Preschools parking lot trees is where they were coming from and flying west overhead towards Longden School by me. I was only able to photograph small clusters but they have been flying from those trees now for hours.

My neighbor saw a huge group last week down the street.

Could this be great news for preservation in Temple City? Are they growing in one of our trees like they do in Northern California? It’s a huge tourist market at this sight.